Dryden and Otway lived opposite to each other in Queen-street. Otway coming one night from the tavern, chalked upon Dryden's door, _Here lives John Dryden, he is a wit_. Dryden knew his hand writing, and next day chalked on Otway's door, _Here lives Tom Otway, he is oppo-site._ _Essex Register,_ 1802. * * * * * Specimens of old time newspaper poetry. To a LADY who admired dancing. _MAY I presume in humble lays, My dancing fair, thy steps to praise? While this grand maxim I advance, That all the world is but a dance, That human-kind, both man and woman, Do_ dance _is evident and common. David himself, that God-like king, We know could_ dance, _as well as_ sing. _Folks who at court would keep their ground, Must dance the year attendance round. All nature is one_ ball, _we find: The water dances to the wind; The sea itself at night and noon Rises and capers to the moon; The moon around the earth does tread A Cheshire round in buxom red; The earth and planets round the sun_ Dance, _nor will their_ dance _be done 'Till nature in one mass is blended; Then we may say the_ ball _is ended._ _Salem Mercury,_ July 29, 1788. * * * * * THE FOUNT. --> THE following--from the pen of a fair correspondent--cannot be read without PLEASURE and IMPROVEMENT. * * * * * _LINES FOR A SCREEN._ TO BE WRITTEN BENEATH THE FIGURE OF "MINERVA HOLDING A CROWN OF OLIVE." Ah! lovely Ladies--while with care Ye guard from harm your FACES fair; While spreads the airy PARASOL To shield you from the beams of SOL; And many a FAN and VEIL and BLIND Protect from each intrusive wind:-- And whilst ye deign to intervene Twixt you and fire, the humble SCREEN!-- Oh! strive alike to guard your _hearts_ From VICE, and all her wily arts. Your parasol let VIRTUE prove, To ward th' attacks of _lawless_ love-- Prudence will prove a _screen_ to thee, And let thy VEIL be MODESTY. Attend my words, ye Fair, for know, This _Crown_ shall grace the worthiest brow. ORA. _Columbian Centinel,_ July 27, 1814. * * * * * _From the_ GAZETTE _of the_ U. STATES. IMPROMPTU. _On seeing a young Lady darning Stockings._ ALONG the stocking's foot, with ease and grace Your fingers, lovely Mira, when you move, On them with eye admiring I will gaze, And drink deep draughts of all resistless love.